Kuat Racks was at Sea Otter showing off some of its brand-new and still-in-development products. In fact, Sea Otter was the official debut of Kuat’s first rooftop cargo box, known as the Varial. This new model brings sleek looks and some unique design features to the rooftop cargo market.
Kuat also had its updated Pivot v3 swing-away adapter, and was demonstrating the Piston SR’s ability to transport bikes with 32” wheels. Perhaps most interesting, however, was the Drop In vertical hitch rack prototype.
New Varial Rooftop Cargo Box
The Varial is Kuat’s first-ever rooftop cargo box, and it looks to be a great addition to the brand’s lineup. While it is obviously not a bike-specific product, plenty of cyclists also participate in other outdoor activities and use cargo boxes. As is typical of Kuat’s latest products, the Varial looks darn good and appears thoughtfully designed to make it as user-friendly as possible.
With the Varial, Kuat aims to “redefine rooftop storage.” To do this, they designed it with a “forward opening architecture,” with the box’s hinge at the front and integrated gas struts raising the rear of the box when opened. Along with handles and locks on both sides, this should make accessing your gear easy, no matter which side of the vehicle you are on.
The Varial also has quick-mount hardware that should work with most factory and aftermarket crossbars and “allows users to install or remove the cargo box in seconds.” I saw it in action, and it looked very quick and easy to use. According to the folks at Kuat, it has a storage capacity of 18 cu. ft. and fits skis up to 195 cm long. They’ve included internal mounting points for tie-downs to secure gear if needed.
Kuat also told us that they partnered with a company in Wisconsin, and the Varial is formed and assembled in the USA. The box itself is made from UV-capped, double-coated ABS, and the exterior has no exposed rivets or hardware. All of the parts are replaceable, even the shell. The Varial on display at Sea Otter also had EVA marine foam added to the interior for cargo protection, which will be available as an aftermarket add-on.
Pricing for the Varial cargo box starts at $1,289 for black and $1,398 for bronze, and it will be available in October 2026.
Pivot v3 Swing-Away Adapter
Kuat also just announced an updated version of the Pivot swing-away adapter. Now in its third iteration, the Pivot v3 includes some subtle refinements over the previous version with the goal of improving stability and rigidity. Like its predecessor, the Pivot v3 swings out to 90- and 120-degree positions, supports up to 250 lbs or weight, and comes in driver- or passenger-side swing options. It fits into a 2” hitch receiver, and it carries racks in the 2” receiver size.
The Pivot v3 updates were reportedly inspired by the Pivot XD. These include a “newly engineered safety pin closure system that significantly improves driving stability. A reinforced hitch tube adds strength in high-stress areas, delivering long-term reliability for wherever the road leads.” Otherwise, it appears to maintain the same build quality and user-friendly design of the previous version.
Still, the new Pivot v3 is not to be confused with Pivot’s heavy-duty Pivot XD ($798). While obviously very similar, the XD has a more robust design and steps up to a 350-pound weight limit, compared to the v3’s 250 pounds. For most people, the Pivot v3 is likely better suited for everyday use with lighter bikes and driving on paved surfaces, whereas the Pivot XD is a better choice for heavier bikes and/or driving off-road, or the upcoming Drop In vertical rack.
The Pivot v3 retails for $549 and is anticipated to start shipping in June.
Drop In Vertical Hitch Rack Concept
There was no shortage of prototype bikes and wheels to see at Sea Otter this year, but prototype bike racks were less common. Fortunately, Kuat brought along its concept for a vertical hitch rack. Named the Drop In, the brand’s first vertical rack is still in development, but they had a seemingly functional prototype on display to generate a little buzz ahead of its projected spring 2027 launch.
The folks at Kuat said the Drop In can carry up to 6 bikes with flat handlebars or 4 with drop bars at a time. They claim it’s intended to work with road, gravel, mountain, and kids’ bikes — essentially any bike without front fenders. Rubber straps secure the rear wheel to the lower crossbar, while another captures the front wheel and holds it down in the wheel basket.
The Drop In is claimed to be compatible with wheels from 20” to 32” in diameter and tires up to 2.5” wide, with an accessory in development for fat tires up to 5” wide. It has a stated maximum wheelbase length of 53” (1,350mm), and a projected total weight capacity of 250 pounds. Kuat estimates the rack itself will weigh around 95 pounds.
The rack on display looked very sturdy and darn close to production-ready. It had a very Kuat-esque finish and aesthetic, including large anodized orange parts and some smaller accents. Supposedly, it will have a handle added for a 45-degree tilt to make loading and unloading easier. On that note, it has a very stout-looking pivot, although it was not clear if it would include a tilt-assist piston. Given Kuat’s affinity for pistons, however, I would be surprised if it didn’t.
Given that the rack is still in the concept and development phase, Kuat says the final specifications, features, and pricing are all still TBD.
Kuat Piston Rack 32” Compatibility
The brand-new Salsa Fargo 32 gravel bike was on display in the booth as well, seemingly just to demonstrate the Piston SR’s compatibility with 32” wheeled bikes. The rack appeared to have no issue holding the 32” wheels and tires with the wheel arms set in the 29” wheel position. This leads us to believe that all of the models in the Piston family, including the Piston Pro and Piston hitch racks, and the Piston SR roof rack, should probably be able to support the larger wheel size, too.
kuat.com
